Resilient wheel.



R. GAIGNARD. BESILIENT WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 20

In 1/e Taf ow'- R G1ckig-ncx1-p` UNITED STI'XTES PATENT OFFICE;

RAOUL GAIGNARD, OF PARIS, FRANCE.

RESILIENT WHEEL.

To all rwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RAOUL Gaioxann, a

Paris, inthe Republic of France, manufacturer, have invented certain new and useful Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 20, 1905.

Patented March 2, 1909.

Serial No. 288,244.

' wise.

The edges of the fellies A and B l g lea\e sul'licient annular space between them cltlzen of the French Republic, residing in to allow the internal Wheel t0 be displaced a relatively to the -felly B, as will be herein- Improvements in and Connected with le- -silient lVheels, for Which application has been made in Great Britain, Xo. 21,74%, -.dated October 25, 1905; in Belgium, dated October 16, 1905; in Germany, patent of acldition, dated October 2T, 1905; in France, patent of addition, dated October 4, 1905, to Patent No. 356,329, dated July Q2, 1905.

This invention relates to an arrangement of resilient Wheel intended to dispense with the use of pneumatic tires on the wheels of all kinds of vehicles in general and more particularly on the Wheels of motor-cars or automobile vehicles.

' According to this arrangement the wheel is -composed oftwo essential parts, a central part preferably constituted like an ordinary Wheel, and an external part inclosing the former with which it is connected, with interpolation of springs. These latter are arranged in a particular manner with a view to neutralizing vibration and the jolts due lto inequalities of the ground and to avoid groove 1 and rigidly connected to the hub surrounding the axle 2 in any suitable manner, for instance, by means of spokes in such a Way that the Whole has the appearance of an ordinary Wheel. The groove 1 represented in the drawing, may itself constitute the E felly A and be connected to the hub surrounding the axle 2 by metal spokes, but iL- is evident that it may also simply fulfil the oce of a tire or nave hoop held on a Wooden rim. A second telly B is arranged round f the felly A and comprises two lateral rims 3 firmly attached toa hoop 31. The constitution of this felly B enables it to have an internal and an external groove. The latter is intended to receive a suitable tread or runnin band 4 of any suitable material, but

after explained.

Between the essential elements Aand B -of the Wheel, spiral'springs 5 of a general double conical formas shown in the drawings, are arranged. These springs have for their object to connect the said parts in an elastic manner, andfor'this object they are arranged in pairs. The adjacent extremities of each pair of springs bear against an abutment or T piece 6 firmly xed to the hoop 1, their opposite ends are sup orted against Wedge-shaped pieces 7 firmy attached to the hoop 3 31.

When the resilient Wheel is in use it is evident that the Weight of the vehicle is transmitted by the axle 2 to the felly A, which in its turn bears, by the intermediary of the pieces 6, on the springs situated beneath them and which' arecompressed, While the springs which surmount them are permitted to expand. The position of the springsV 5 between the radial brackets or supports 6 and the pieces 7 is exactly determined with a view to yield the most. satisfactory results. This position is such that the moment a piece (S occupies the horizontal position, the

axes of the adjacent springs 5 are vertical,

` that is to say perpendicular to the said piece g mum of friction.

Owing to the arrangement just mentioned, the springs 5 all assist in turn in the duty of the support of the internal wheel A, but at the moment when the maximum eii'ort is required from these springs, that is to say when they occupy positions on the horizontal diameter ot the Wheel, or laterally diametrically opposite to each other, they are found in the position which is most favorable for meeting the requirements.

The resilient wheel in revolving, successively brings the springs 5 into all the poprefera ly of leather strengthened, or otheri sitions which they are capable of taking.

--which thus absorb the vibrations and 4the shocks which are not transmitted to the axle 2, and consequently to the vehicle. l

' lVith the object of giving more rigidity to i thesystem, twocheeks or side plates 9 are laterally arranged one on each of the faces of the wheel; they are i'ixed on the felly B by inealis of bolts l passing, for instance,

- through the parts?l (Fig. l). The cheeks 9 mayhave on their periphery a tlange l1 forming a hook and lserving for fixing the t to a diameter oiu the wheel.

tread or band 4,' asshown in the drawings.

It is evident that in order to enable Athe Wheel to operate in the manner hereinbefore described, the springs ni'ust 'be slightly compressed or given an initial'tensioii when introduced between the part t5 and the part '7 corresponding to it, and further the proi j ection of these pieces 6 and 7 must be limited so as 'not to impede the relative inotteinent of the parts A and B.

Any. suitablev number of springs may be f employed, there being ot course a corre-- spending number of supports or abutments (i and It. is highly preferable that the springs'should be of the double conical or double truncated'it'orni as shown, the medial portionsof the springs being of smaller diyameterthan the ends, This shape ofspring and their manner, of mounting obviate friction, as the springs, when in action, as Well as at other times, do not touch anything Whatever excepting the spring-supporting nipples or bosses, at their ends. No guides are needed, as springs of this form are not liable to be deformed or deflected sidewise when subjected to axial pressure, andthe initial tension given to the springs is stiflicient to retain themfirmly in place when p extended.

I' claimy, 1. In a resilient wheel for Vehicles-,1the combination of an outer telly., an inner` fell'y i being arranged alternately and intermediately of each other, and helical compression springs, each a double truncated cone in shape-'and acting between the inner and outer abutments and solely by which the inner'felly is supported by the outer felly,

the springs being entirely free from Contact with all objects except the abutnients, the springs normally extending at right angles :2. A resilient fichicle wheel comprising an outer felly, an inner felly radially spaced from the outer telly to provide an annular space between the fellies, a tread carried by the outer felly, a hub 'for the Wheel, connecting means between the inner :telly and the hub wedu'e sha )ed abutments extendinU from the outer felly into the annular space toward the inner 'elly, radial brackets exradiallyspaced from the outer telly to protending from the inner felly into the annular space toward the outer felly, the abutinents and brackets'being arranged altern'ately and interniediately of each other, and helicalucompression springs, each a double truncated cone in shape, the Abases of the cones forming the ends of the springs, 'the abutments and' the brackets each having 4rounded nipples over Awhich. the enlarged ends of the'springs tit, the springs being the sole supporting means between the two fellies, the springs normally extending atright y angles to a` diameter of the Wheel, .and the springs being entirely free from Contact v with any (object at all points excepting their ends alone.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto signed l my naine this 2nd day 4ofvl\iovember 1905, in the presence ot' twov subscribing Witnesses.

RAOUL GAIGNARD. f Witnesses:

A'NToNiN MONTEILHET,

HANsoN C. CoXE. 

